The region has been experiencing rising temperatures for weeks. In March, thermometers in New Delhi registered 40.1 degrees Celsius, a level not seen at this time of year since 1946. On Thursday, the 28th, India’s capital hit 46 degrees, making life increasingly difficult for residents, especially those who have to. working outdoors.
“I drink more than 5 liters of water a day. That’s all I can do,” says 50-year-old worker Mohammed, who carries large pieces of metal on his shoulders in the scorching midday sun. . “I have to work to live,” he sums up, remembering living on the construction site. “I’m sleeping here. At least we have a fan,” she tries to console herself.
Mohammed works in one of the capital’s most sophisticated neighborhoods, which is witnessing a momentum in the construction industry. However, studies have already begun to fall under the influence of high temperatures.
“In the last few days, some workers left because they suffered from the heat,” says foreman Mohammad Yasin. “The rest have to stop many times a day to rest, which delays construction,” he says.
The heatwave comes in the middle of Ramadan, the traditional Muslim fast that ends this weekend. Those who respect the practice go from sunrise to sunset without eating, which further complicates working conditions. More than 200 million people follow Islam in India.
fire in the dump
A dumpster caught fire on Thursday north of the capital, and high temperatures caused the fire, according to local officials. It took hours for fire crews to calm the flames, making the air quality in the metropolis even more unbreathable.
Three more fires broke out in less than a month in Ghazipur, the capital’s largest dump, a 65-metre-high garbage mountain. With a population of more than 20 million, the city lacks modern infrastructure to handle the 12,000 tons of waste it generates daily.
Since 2010, heat waves in India have killed more than 6,500 people. Scientists say it’s becoming more frequent due to climate change, but also more severe. “Heat like the one that hit India earlier this month has only been seen every 50 years,” says Mariam Zachariah of the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London.
Pakistani agriculture in danger
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Society, temperatures in Pakistan also reach 8 degrees above normal in some regions and 48 degrees in some regions.
In this country, where agriculture, the basis of the economy, employs around 40% of the total workforce, the lack of heat and rain directly affects farmers who will have to manage their water supply. “The nation’s public health and agriculture will face serious threats from this year’s extreme temperatures,” summarizes Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman.
electricity consumption
High temperatures also cause explosion in electricity consumption. Some cities in Pakistan experienced power outages of up to eight hours. Power plants are also starting to consume coal to power their operations. According to Pakistani Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, the electricity crisis is already affecting the entire country.
In India’s northwestern Rajasthan and neighboring state of Gujarat, as well as further south in Andhra Pradesh, factories have had power cuts to reduce consumption. According to local media, large power plants are also suffering from a shortage of coal.
source: Noticias
